In part one of this series, the lack of American soccer player imagination/creativity was discussed. This lack of creativity by the American player not only leads to pretty boring soccer play, but also the creativity it takes to become a great soccer player.
In part two of this series, the idea of reintroducing street soccer was discussed as the possible solution to this problem. Street soccer would allow players to just play. Free of the pressure of coaches, parents, and others. This would allow them the opportunity to explore new moves without the pressure of failure.
To continue the series, the question has to be asked if the United States move to the small-sided game format at the youth level not enough to help encourage creativity in soccer? Small-sided soccer is designed to give players more touches, therefore more opportunities to be comfortable around the ball, why isn't this enough? Coach Roni Mansur again answers the questions.
What are small-sided games and what are some of their benefits?
The leading youth soccer organization in this country - U.S. Youth Soccer, NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America), and AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) - have followed in the footsteps of the soccer federations of Holland, France, Germany and Brazil and taken steps to embrace and promote small-sided games for youth players. These organizations recommend that the 11 v. 11 game format should be applicable only for player above the age of 12; U-6 players should play 3 v. 3, U-8 players 4 v. 4, U-10 players 6 v. 6, and U-12 players 8 v. 8. It also is recommended that these small-sided games be played on correspondingly smaller field sizes.
Soccer and child-development researchers consider the small-sided environment to be developmentally appropriate for young soccer players. It creates a fun environment where kids are able to get more touches on the ball and, as a result, have more opportunities to score goals than they would in an 11 v. 11 format. This increased participation also provides more opportunities for players to practice the key technical skills of dribbling, passing, tackling, and shooting. In addition, players' tactical development is accelerated; in small-sided games, they are presented with a variety of soccer-related problems more frequently and they have to make independent decisions. Furthermore, the smaller games also help develop the players' mental skills. In particular, they teach players to maintain focus by not dwelling on mistakes that would distract them from being ready for their next touch on the ball.
The move to small-sided games for younger players is a positive one, but it has not yet been embraced and adopted at the grassroots level in several states.
How is street soccer different from small-sided games and how can coaches incorporate street soccer into American youth soccer?
The small-sided games concept offers many benefits, but it still represents activities that adults control and direct. This is the key difference between street soccer and small-sided games. In street soccer, there is no adult supervision.
The first step coaches can take is to understand and promote small-sided games in local youth leagues so young players can have a developmentally appropriate environment in which to play soccer. They can take this one step further by incorporating the concept of small-sided games into coaching sessions instead of using old-fashioned drills in which players wait in line for their turn to shoot on goal or dribble through cones. All the techniques and tactics that are taught through drills can be coached just as effectively through small-sided games. In addition, using small-sided games in practice sessions offers several added benefits - they allow players to learn in more realistic and game-like situations. They have more touches on the ball and usually have more fun.
The next step coaches can take is to adopt and promote street soccer within their teams and local communities. There are many reasons why it will be challenging to bring street soccer in its purest form to the United States, but there are several ways to incorporate the concept of street soccer into coaching sessions and methods.
One such approach is to dedicate a portion of every practice to street soccer. During this segment, the coach steps back and gives control of the game to the players, who become responsible for setting up a game themselves. The coach may even decide to bar players from using cones and pinnies for their games, instead allowing them to figure out on their own that their sweatshirts and water bottles make fine goalposts and sidelines.
This approach can be discomforting for coaches accustomed to maintaining control and structure. It can be unnerving for a coach to take a back seat and simply watch the game, not say anything, make any coaching points or settle disputed calls. They may feel disengaged from the practice and feel that they are not contributing to their players' development.
However, this uninterrupted street soccer game is one of the most effective teaching tools available. As the saying goes, "the game is the best teacher." In addition, coaches can take advantage of this opportunity to take a step back and observe their players in a non-competitive situation to better understand their strengths, development needs and interpersonal relationships.
This approach likely will make many parents uncomfortable as well. As adults, we typically equate structure and control as necessary elements to learning, especially in the United States. As a result, coaches will need to educate parents about the benefits of street soccer and the need for unsupervised play to help foster creativity and imagination among young soccer players.
These street soccer sessions also represent a great opportunity for the players to learn about ownership. The game they just set up and are playing truly is their own. THe coach is there to tend to injuries, but nothing else. The coach may decide to join the game, but only under the condition that he or she is treated the same as any of the other players.
Another potential benefit of this approach is that it teaches young players to become more independent and helps them learn how to set up a soccer game without adult supervision. This may seem trite, but most of our young players are unable to organize pickup games themselves. Their concept of playing soccer is either going to practice or playing a game, both of which are supervised by adults.
Having our young players realize during practice sessions that they can easily set up and play soccer without any help from adults may encourage some to call their friends and meet at a field to play soccer after school. It's a long shot, but with enough support and encouragement, maybe someday soon we will see some of our kids playing pickup soccer on their own. This is the probably the closest we can hope to get to a street soccer environment in the United States.
In part two of this series, the idea of reintroducing street soccer was discussed as the possible solution to this problem. Street soccer would allow players to just play. Free of the pressure of coaches, parents, and others. This would allow them the opportunity to explore new moves without the pressure of failure.
To continue the series, the question has to be asked if the United States move to the small-sided game format at the youth level not enough to help encourage creativity in soccer? Small-sided soccer is designed to give players more touches, therefore more opportunities to be comfortable around the ball, why isn't this enough? Coach Roni Mansur again answers the questions.
What are small-sided games and what are some of their benefits?
The leading youth soccer organization in this country - U.S. Youth Soccer, NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America), and AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) - have followed in the footsteps of the soccer federations of Holland, France, Germany and Brazil and taken steps to embrace and promote small-sided games for youth players. These organizations recommend that the 11 v. 11 game format should be applicable only for player above the age of 12; U-6 players should play 3 v. 3, U-8 players 4 v. 4, U-10 players 6 v. 6, and U-12 players 8 v. 8. It also is recommended that these small-sided games be played on correspondingly smaller field sizes.
Soccer and child-development researchers consider the small-sided environment to be developmentally appropriate for young soccer players. It creates a fun environment where kids are able to get more touches on the ball and, as a result, have more opportunities to score goals than they would in an 11 v. 11 format. This increased participation also provides more opportunities for players to practice the key technical skills of dribbling, passing, tackling, and shooting. In addition, players' tactical development is accelerated; in small-sided games, they are presented with a variety of soccer-related problems more frequently and they have to make independent decisions. Furthermore, the smaller games also help develop the players' mental skills. In particular, they teach players to maintain focus by not dwelling on mistakes that would distract them from being ready for their next touch on the ball.
The move to small-sided games for younger players is a positive one, but it has not yet been embraced and adopted at the grassroots level in several states.
How is street soccer different from small-sided games and how can coaches incorporate street soccer into American youth soccer?
The small-sided games concept offers many benefits, but it still represents activities that adults control and direct. This is the key difference between street soccer and small-sided games. In street soccer, there is no adult supervision.
The first step coaches can take is to understand and promote small-sided games in local youth leagues so young players can have a developmentally appropriate environment in which to play soccer. They can take this one step further by incorporating the concept of small-sided games into coaching sessions instead of using old-fashioned drills in which players wait in line for their turn to shoot on goal or dribble through cones. All the techniques and tactics that are taught through drills can be coached just as effectively through small-sided games. In addition, using small-sided games in practice sessions offers several added benefits - they allow players to learn in more realistic and game-like situations. They have more touches on the ball and usually have more fun.
The next step coaches can take is to adopt and promote street soccer within their teams and local communities. There are many reasons why it will be challenging to bring street soccer in its purest form to the United States, but there are several ways to incorporate the concept of street soccer into coaching sessions and methods.
One such approach is to dedicate a portion of every practice to street soccer. During this segment, the coach steps back and gives control of the game to the players, who become responsible for setting up a game themselves. The coach may even decide to bar players from using cones and pinnies for their games, instead allowing them to figure out on their own that their sweatshirts and water bottles make fine goalposts and sidelines.
This approach can be discomforting for coaches accustomed to maintaining control and structure. It can be unnerving for a coach to take a back seat and simply watch the game, not say anything, make any coaching points or settle disputed calls. They may feel disengaged from the practice and feel that they are not contributing to their players' development.
However, this uninterrupted street soccer game is one of the most effective teaching tools available. As the saying goes, "the game is the best teacher." In addition, coaches can take advantage of this opportunity to take a step back and observe their players in a non-competitive situation to better understand their strengths, development needs and interpersonal relationships.
This approach likely will make many parents uncomfortable as well. As adults, we typically equate structure and control as necessary elements to learning, especially in the United States. As a result, coaches will need to educate parents about the benefits of street soccer and the need for unsupervised play to help foster creativity and imagination among young soccer players.
These street soccer sessions also represent a great opportunity for the players to learn about ownership. The game they just set up and are playing truly is their own. THe coach is there to tend to injuries, but nothing else. The coach may decide to join the game, but only under the condition that he or she is treated the same as any of the other players.
Another potential benefit of this approach is that it teaches young players to become more independent and helps them learn how to set up a soccer game without adult supervision. This may seem trite, but most of our young players are unable to organize pickup games themselves. Their concept of playing soccer is either going to practice or playing a game, both of which are supervised by adults.
Having our young players realize during practice sessions that they can easily set up and play soccer without any help from adults may encourage some to call their friends and meet at a field to play soccer after school. It's a long shot, but with enough support and encouragement, maybe someday soon we will see some of our kids playing pickup soccer on their own. This is the probably the closest we can hope to get to a street soccer environment in the United States.